Story perspectives

40,000 Young Women Recruited for Controversial Drone Jobs

1/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers identified Demaris Hoyos as the main recruiter for a Mexican company targeting young Latin American women for jobs in Russia, advertising lucrative salaries and scholarships.
The recruits, aged 18-22, faced extreme monitoring, financial penalties, and passport confiscation after a Ukrainian drone strike injured workers at the factory.
Recruits increased from 1,000 in 2023 to 40,000 in 2025.
About 90% of the women are involved in drone production.

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Story summary

Researchers identified Demaris Hoyos as the main recruiter for a Mexican company targeting young Latin American women for jobs in Russia, advertising lucrative salaries and scholarships.
The recruits, aged 18-22, faced extreme monitoring, financial penalties, and passport confiscation after a Ukrainian drone strike injured workers at the factory.
Recruits increased from 1,000 in 2023 to 40,000 in 2025.
About 90% of the women are involved in drone production.